When Your Own Back-to-School Anxiety Is More Than Just Stress

By Beth Salcedo, MD 

It’s late August and school is back in session for your child. By now, a lot of parents may feel like they're running two full-time jobs at once. One is the job that actually pays them, and the other is orchestrating school forms, sports schedules, supply lists, and the dozen small logistics that no one else in the house seems to track. 

This can lead to you snapping at your partner more over something minor, lying awake running through tomorrow's to-do list, or feeling like you can't fully exhale until September settles down. 

Sometimes, though, that ordinary seasonal stress crosses into something a psychiatrist would actually call clinically significant anxiety, and understanding what that shift actually looks like can help you tell the difference. 

Signs Your Stress Might Be More Than Seasonal

Here are some signs that show that your stress might be more permanent rather than seasonal. 

• Finding yourself still unable to get a full night's sleep, even weeks after your new routine has settled in, lying awake or waking at 3am with your mind already racing
• Noticing physical signs of stress that weren't part of your life before, like a tight chest, an unsettled stomach most days, or tension headaches
• Getting irritated more easily than usual, snapping at people who don't deserve it, and realizing it's happening without quite being able to catch yourself in the moment
• Feeling unable to concentrate at work because part of your attention is always somewhere else
• Doing more of the things that help you check out, like reaching for a second glass of wine or scrolling longer than you used to, more often than you would have a year ago

If you find these signs showing up more often, oftentimes together, and lasting more than a couple of weeks, you might need to pay closer attention to them. 

Deciding Between Therapy, Medication, or Both

If you're noticing several of the above signs, and they've been showing up for a while now, it may be time to think about actual treatment rather than just waiting for it to pass. There are a few established paths here: therapy on its own, medication on its own, or a combination of both. 

In our practice, we see patients dealing with similar symptoms on a regular basis, and each of these paths can work well, either on their own or together, depending on what's actually driving the anxiety for that particular person.

Here's a look at how the three main treatment options actually compare.

The table above can help you weigh the practical side of each option. But you may want to ask yourself this question first: are you looking for quick relief from your symptoms, or are you more interested in understanding what's actually driving the anxiety over the long run? 

Neither answer to the question is right or wrong. You may want the racing thoughts and the tight chest gone as fast as possible, so you can actually function today. Or you may be less bothered by the day-to-day symptoms, and more interested in working through what's underneath them, even if that takes longer. Either way, the answer to this question is something that you can bring into that first conversation, and your provider will factor it in alongside everything else as you work out a plan together.

Starting the Conversation About Treatment

A first conversation with a psychiatrist is mainly about understanding what's actually going on and what your realistic options are. It isn't a commitment to start medication or begin therapy on the spot. 

If the signs above sound like where you are right now, and you're ready to think through next steps, book an appointment with our team and we'll help you figure out what would actually make a difference. 

Beth Salcedo, MD, board-certified psychiatrist affiliated with The Ross Center. Not personal medical advice. If you or someone you care about is in crisis, call or text 988.